BOLTON has one of the most thriving business economies in the UK, a new set of figures have revealed.

The Royal Mail has released its Business Barometer figures for March-August this year — and Bolton is in second place in terms of business growth.

The top spot was taken by Sunderland.

Last year, the town failed to make it into the top 20, so the results are being celebrated as a coup for local commerce.

The detailed analysis of active businesses in the UK sees Bolton buck the trend, with a 1.99 per cent increase in growth between March and August this year, compared to the same period in 2007.

More than 230 new businesses opened in the borough in that period, taking the total to more than 12,300.

Despite the good news, company chiefs in Bolton have given mixed reactions to the news.

Stephen Critchlow is chief executive of health IT group Ascribe and chairman of Bolton Strategic Economic Partnership.

He said: “I’m not surprised there has been growth, Ascribe is doing fantastically well and getting better. I think this is actually related to the council.

“It is particularly progressive and has a really good development plan for the town, although there is still a long way to go.

“Many places are optimistic, whereas in Bolton we are all a bit more down to grassroots.

“I expect the impact of the current climate on Bolton to be less than elsewhere because of this.

“We have grown against the trend which is good.”

Steve Howes is the business development director at Howorth Medical and Howorth Pharma in Farnworth. He said: “We had been doing well until the summer, but now things are more difficult.

“We are still profitable but have concerns. I’m surprised by the research, but think it is a good thing. It’s good to hear other companies are doing well.

“I think it’s down to the hard working employees of Bolton. It is very encouraging news, certainly in these difficult times.”